The real reason Americans are missing out on life-saving drugs

The oft-repeated claim that the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) doesn't approve drugs quickly enough is simply false. The actual approval process usually only takes six to 12 months. So why does the US lag behind Europe in the number of new drugs it brings to market?

Look no further than the clinical trials required by the FDA before the drug even reaches the government agency's review stage. Once a drug has been developed, it can take six to ten years for three phases of clinical trials to be performed.